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Gambits are a new functionality of the battle system of the game Final Fantasy XII. During the game, combat can be controlled manually or programmed via the use of Gambits. The gambit system is slightly similar to the Macro system found in Final Fantasy XI. Like simple computers, the player can create a list of commands and dependencies to be carried out automatically by the characters to simplify the combat system. All commands relate to the character itself, the character's allies, or the enemies onscreen.

Contents

Functionality

Gambits are composed of an action to be taken if a certain condition is met. Actions can be either the use of items or the casting of spells & techniques. There is no action for quickenings and summons, which must be activated manually. During battle, each character can have their entire gambit list turned on or off and also have each individual gambit in their list turned on or off. Gambits can be changed at any moment during a battle.

Sequential

Gambits are organized in a list in order of priority. The characters start with no list of gambits and later can gain up the ability to have a list with 1, 2, 3 up to 12 gambits by buying the license for gambit slots on the License Board. Each gambit on the list is evaluated and the first gambit which has a true, actionable condition will be executed. Each time the character gets a new turn the list gets re-evaluated anew, starting with gambit #1.

Action: No double casting

The gambit mechanism will not revive a character who is not KO'd or recast a status buffer if the character still has it, i.e. a gambit for Haste will not be activated if the character status is already of Haste. As well, the gambit mechanism will not have two characters simultaneously cast a status buffer or revive a KO'd character twice, i.e. if two characters have a gambit set-up to revive a fallen party member, and a party member is KO'd, only one of the characters will have their gambit to revive them executed.

The exceptions to the above rules are are: Steal, Poach, Drain, and Syphon which will be re-activated at every turn, even if the foe is immune or has no more items/MP to steal.

Action: Constraints

A gambit may not be executed, even if its condition is true, if the action it has can not be performed, i.e., a gambit with the action to cast the spell Haste will only be done if the character has enough MP to cast haste and is not under a restrictive status such as Silence, Disable, or other that prohibits the use of magick. A similar constraint applies to the usage of items, i.e. a gambit calling for the use of Hi-Potion will only get performed if there is at least one Hi-Potion in the party's inventory.

Condition: Self, Ally or Foe

Conditions for gambits need to be purchased at Gambit shops and are for Self, Ally, or Foe. They can also occasionally be found in treasure urns.

Canceling

A character may cancel an action enacted by a gambit if a higher-priority gambit's conditions are fulfilled. For example, the character has a gambit to Steal from foes with 100% HP, and a lower-priority gambit to Attack foes who have less than that. If the party is fighting a foe, and a second, full-HP foe comes near, the character will cancel their Attack on the first foe and Steal from the second.

The exceptions to canceling an action due to priority are all commands the player inputs manually. Any command the player gives to the character will be executed if possible, regardless of gambits.

List of Gambits

There are several gambits in the game. Initially, the party starts with very little gambits to work with, but as the game progresses, the party can buy more.

Ally Gambits

These Gambits are under the Blue tab of the gambit menu. All conditions require a party member to be under a certain condition.

Gambit

Ally: any

Ally: party leader

Ally: Vaan

Ally: Ashe

Ally: Fran

Ally: Balthier

Ally: Penelo

Ally: Basch

Ally: lowest HP

Ally: strongest weapon

Ally: lowest defense

Ally: lowest magick resist

Ally: HP <100%

Ally: HP <90%

Ally: HP <80%

Ally: HP <70%

Ally: HP <60%

Ally: HP <50%

Ally: HP <40%

Ally: HP <30%

Ally: HP <20%

Ally: HP <10%

Ally: MP <100%

Ally: MP <90%

Ally: MP <80%

Ally: MP <70%

Ally: MP <60%

Ally: MP <50%

Ally: MP <40%

Ally: MP <30%

Ally: MP <20%

Ally: MP <10%

Ally: status = Regen

Ally: status = Float

Ally: status = Bubble

Ally: status = Stop

Ally: status = Sleep

Ally: status = Confuse

Ally: status = Reverse

Ally: status = Slow

Ally: status = Lure

Ally: status = Reflect

Ally: status = Berserk

Ally: status = HP Critical

Ally: item AMT >= 10

Ally: status = KO

Ally: status = Stone

Ally: status = Petrify

Ally: status = Doom

Ally: status = Blind

Ally: status = Poison

Ally: status = Silence

Ally: status = Sap

Ally: status = Oil

Ally: status = Disable

Ally: status = Immobilize

Ally: status = Disease

Ally: status = Protect

Ally: status = Shell

Ally: status = Haste

Ally: status = Bravery

Ally: status = Faith

Ally: status = Invisible

Foe Gambits

These Gambits are under the Red tab of the gambit menu. All conditions require an enemy to be under a certain condition.

Gambit

Foe: party leader's target

Foe: nearest visible

Foe: any

Foe: targeting leader

Foe: targeting self

Foe: targeting ally

Foe: undead

Foe: furthest

Foe: nearest

Foe: highest HP

Foe: lowest HP

Foe: highest max HP

Foe: lowest max HP

Foe: highest max MP

Foe: lowest max MP

Foe: highest level

Foe: lowest level

Foe: highest strength

Foe: lowest strength

Foe: highest magick power

Foe: lowest magick power

Foe: highest speed

Foe: lowest speed

Foe: highest defense

Foe: highest magick resist

Foe: HP >= 100,000

Foe: HP >= 50,000

Foe: HP >= 10,000

Foe: HP >= 5,000

Foe: HP >= 3,000

Foe: HP >= 2,000

Foe: HP >= 1,000

Foe: HP >= 500

Foe: HP < 100,000

Foe: HP < 50,000

Foe: HP < 10,000

Foe: HP < 5,000

Foe: HP < 3,000

Foe: HP < 2,000

Foe: HP < 1,000

Foe: HP < 500

Foe: HP = 100%

Foe: HP => 70%

Foe: HP => 50%

Foe: HP => 30%

Foe: status = Petrify

Foe: status = Stop

Foe: status = Sleep

Foe: status = Confuse

Foe: status = Doom

Foe: status = Blind

Foe: status = Poison

Foe: status = Silence

Foe: status = Sap

Foe: status = Oil

Foe: status = Reverse

Foe: status = Disable

Foe: status = Immobilize

Foe: status = Slow

Foe: status = Disease

Foe: status = Protect

Foe: status = Shell

Foe: status = Haste

Foe: status = Bravery

Foe: status = Faith

Foe: status = Reflect

Foe: status = Regen

Foe: status = Berserk

Foe: status = HP Critical

Foe: fire-weak

Foe: lightning-weak

Foe: ice-weak

Foe: earth-weak

Foe: water-weak

Foe: wind-weak

Foe: holy-weak

Foe: dark-weak

Foe: fire-vulnerable

Foe: lightning-vulnerable

Foe: ice-vulnerable

Foe: earth-vulnerable

Foe: water-vulnerable

Foe: wind-vulnerable

Foe: holy-vulnerable

Foe: dark-vulnerable

Foe: undead

Foe: flying

Foe: item AMT >= 10

Foe: character HP=100%

Foe: character status = Blind

Foe: character status = Silence

Foe: character status = Bravery

Foe: character status = Faith

Foe: character status = HP Critical

Foe: character MP >= 90%

Foe: character MP >= 70%

Foe: character MP >= 50%

Foe: character MP >= 30%

Foe: character MP >= 10%

Foe: character MP < 90%

Foe: character MP < 70%

Foe: character MP < 50%

Foe: character MP < 30%

Foe: character MP < 10%

Foe: character HP >= 90%

Foe: character HP >= 70%

Foe: character HP >= 50%

Foe: character HP >= 30%

Foe: character HP >= 10%

Foe: character HP < 90%

Foe: character HP < 70%

Foe: character HP < 50%

Foe: character HP < 30%

Foe: character HP < 10%

Self Gambits

These Gambits are under the Yellow tab of the gambit menu. All conditions require the user to be under a certain condition.

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